Reno, NV - SHowing Animals Respect and Kindness (SHARK) is calling out Reno Rodeo President John Tipton and rodeo veterinarian, Dr. Joe Coli, on their denials that a horse was struck with a wire rod and electro-shocked in the anus, and endured other abuse during the Friday, June 28 rodeo performance.

Tipton and Coli were both quoted in the Reno Journal Gazette on 7/1/2013. According to the story, Coli said, "it is 'unfathomable' that anyone would stick a wire rod into the anus of a horse." And further, "I cannot for the life of me even begin to imagine someone doing that at a rodeo, especially at Reno with the rules they've got in place. I am not sure what the woman saw or what she thought she saw, but I cannot imagine that is what actually took place."

Coli is not only the veterinarian for the Reno Rodeo, but in what can only be seen as a conflict of interest, has been a member of the Rodeo Association since 1983. He has also worked closely with PRCA Stock Contractor, Cotton Rosser who is notorious for electro-shocking horses.

Coli went on to say, "...any evidence of animal abuse would be taken seriously and anyone torturing an animal would face criminal charges." Lopez-Bowlan and her husband, have stated that they clearly saw the horse being cruelly tormented with not only the wire rod and electric prod being used on his anus but two additional electric prod devices being used on each of his sides, as well as being pinched hard and struck repeatedly by rodeo personnel. She has also said that the horse was clearly in distress; screaming and bucking whilst being tortured in a confined space.

Based on Dr. Coli's statements acknowledging that the abuse documented would constitute animal abuse, SHARK is challenging Coli to join them in demanding that appropriate charges be brought.

According to SHARK president Steve Hindi, "For three years the Reno Rodeo Association has made promises, and has broken every one of them. If the association was serious about dealing with this, it would have already gone to the sheriff's department to insist on an investigation for animal abuse, with subsequent charges against those responsible."